Bar Assistant MCP Server

Instructions

Implementation Reference

• src/bar-assistant-mcp-server.ts:2201-2291 (handler)

  Executes the get_ingredient_info tool: searches cocktails by ingredient name, fetches complete recipes with highlighting, provides hardcoded substitutions based on ingredient (gin/vermouth/campari), returns structured IngredientInfoResponse with human-readable markdown.
  private async handleGetIngredientInfo(args: { ingredient_name: string }) { const startTime = Date.now(); try { // Search for cocktails that use this ingredient const cocktailsWithIngredient = await this.barClient.searchCocktails({ ingredient: args.ingredient_name, limit: 10, }); let response = `# ${args.ingredient_name} Information\n\n`; const cocktailUsage: ResponseSchemas.IngredientUsage[] = []; if (cocktailsWithIngredient.data.length > 0) { response += `## Popular Cocktails Using ${args.ingredient_name}\n\n`; response += `Here are complete recipes for cocktails featuring **${args.ingredient_name}**:\n\n`; // Fetch complete recipes for all cocktails const completeRecipes = await this.fetchCompleteRecipes(cocktailsWithIngredient.data); // Add to structured data for all cocktails completeRecipes.forEach(cocktail => { cocktailUsage.push({ cocktail, usage_notes: `Used in ${cocktail.name}` }); }); // Use standardized multi-cocktail formatter with ingredient highlighting response += this.formatMultipleCocktails(completeRecipes, args.ingredient_name); } else { response += `## Usage\n\nNo cocktails found using "${args.ingredient_name}" in the current database.\n\n`; } // Add substitution suggestions with structured data const substitutions: ResponseSchemas.SubstitutionSuggestion[] = []; const lowerName = args.ingredient_name.toLowerCase(); if (lowerName.includes('gin')) { response += `## Common Substitutes\n• **Vodka** (for a cleaner flavor)\n• **White rum** (for tropical drinks)\n• **Aquavit** (for herbal complexity)\n\n`; substitutions.push( { substitute: 'Vodka', description: 'Provides a cleaner, neutral flavor profile', flavor_impact: 'Less botanical, more neutral' }, { substitute: 'White rum', description: 'Adds tropical character to cocktails', flavor_impact: 'Sweeter, more tropical' }, { substitute: 'Aquavit', description: 'Maintains herbal complexity', flavor_impact: 'Different botanicals, caraway notes' } ); } else if (lowerName.includes('vermouth')) { response += `## Common Substitutes\n• **Lillet Blanc** (lighter, more citrusy)\n• **Cocchi Americano** (more bitter)\n• **Dry sherry** (for fortified wine character)\n\n`; substitutions.push( { substitute: 'Lillet Blanc', description: 'Lighter and more citrus-forward', flavor_impact: 'Less herbal, more citrusy' }, { substitute: 'Cocchi Americano', description: 'More bitter and complex', flavor_impact: 'More bitter, quinine notes' }, { substitute: 'Dry sherry', description: 'Provides fortified wine character', flavor_impact: 'Nuttier, more oxidized flavors' } ); } else if (lowerName.includes('campari')) { response += `## Common Substitutes\n• **Aperol** (lighter, sweeter)\n• **Cappelletti** (similar bitterness)\n• **Gran Classico** (spicier profile)\n\n`; substitutions.push( { substitute: 'Aperol', description: 'Lighter and sweeter alternative', flavor_impact: 'Less bitter, more orange-forward' }, { substitute: 'Cappelletti', description: 'Similar bitterness profile', flavor_impact: 'Similar bitterness, different herbal notes' }, { substitute: 'Gran Classico', description: 'Spicier and more complex', flavor_impact: 'More spice, different bitter profile' } ); } response += `*All recipes above show exactly how **${args.ingredient_name}** is used in each cocktail.*`; // Create structured response const structuredData: ResponseSchemas.IngredientInfoResponse = { ingredient: args.ingredient_name, description: `Information about ${args.ingredient_name} and cocktails that use it`, cocktail_usage: cocktailUsage, substitutions: substitutions.length > 0 ? substitutions : undefined, query: { ingredient_name: args.ingredient_name }, metadata: this.createResponseMetadata('bar_assistant_api', cocktailUsage.length, startTime) }; return this.createStructuredResponse(response, structuredData); } catch (error) { console.error('Error getting ingredient info:', error); return { content: [ { type: 'text', text: `# Error Getting Ingredient Information\n\n` + `Sorry, I encountered an error while looking up information for "${args.ingredient_name}".\n\n` + `**Error:** ${error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error)}\n\n` + `Please check the ingredient name and try again.`, }, ], }; } }
• src/bar-assistant-mcp-server.ts:1260-1292 (registration)

  Registers the 'get_ingredient_info' tool with MCP server, defines input schema (ingredient_name string), references output schema, long description with use cases and examples. Handler dispatched via switch at line 1311.
  name: 'get_ingredient_info', description: `Get comprehensive information about cocktail ingredients and their usage. **Use Cases:** - Ingredient research: "what is Aperol?", "tell me about gin" - Substitution guidance: finding alternatives for unavailable ingredients - Usage exploration: see how ingredients are used across different cocktails - Flavor profile understanding: learn about ingredient characteristics **Response Format:** Returns detailed ingredient information including: - Ingredient description and characteristics - List of cocktails using this ingredient (with complete recipes) - Suggested substitutions with flavor impact notes - Common flavor profiles and tasting notes - Direct links to featured cocktails **Examples:** - {ingredient_name: "Campari"} → Campari info + Negroni, Boulevardier recipes - {ingredient_name: "rye whiskey"} → Usage in Manhattan, Sazerac, etc. - {ingredient_name: "elderflower liqueur"} → Aviation, Paper Plane recipes`, inputSchema: { type: 'object', properties: { ingredient_name: { type: 'string', description: 'The name of the ingredient to get information about', }, }, required: ['ingredient_name'], }, outputSchema: OutputSchemas.ingredientInfoOutputSchema, },
• src/output-schemas.ts:118-163 (schema)

  JSON Schema defining the structured output for get_ingredient_info: includes ingredient details, cocktail_usage array (with full cocktailResultSchema recipes), substitutions, query info, metadata. Referenced in tool registration.
  export const ingredientInfoOutputSchema = { type: "object", properties: { ingredient: { type: "string", description: "Ingredient name" }, description: { type: "string", description: "Ingredient description" }, cocktail_usage: { type: "array", items: { type: "object", properties: { cocktail: cocktailResultSchema, usage_notes: { type: "string", description: "How ingredient is used" } }, required: ["cocktail"] }, description: "Cocktails using this ingredient" }, substitutions: { type: "array", items: { type: "object", properties: { substitute: { type: "string", description: "Substitute ingredient" }, description: { type: "string", description: "Substitution explanation" }, flavor_impact: { type: "string", description: "Impact on flavor" } }, required: ["substitute", "description"] }, description: "Ingredient substitution suggestions" }, flavor_profiles: { type: "array", items: { type: "string" }, description: "Common flavor characteristics" }, query: { type: "object", properties: { ingredient_name: { type: "string", description: "Queried ingredient name" } }, required: ["ingredient_name"] }, metadata: responseMetadataSchema }, required: ["ingredient", "cocktail_usage", "query", "metadata"] };
• src/response-schemas.ts:139-157 (schema)

  TypeScript interface for IngredientInfoResponse used in handler implementation, defines structure matching the JSON schema with IngredientUsage (cocktail + notes) and SubstitutionSuggestion.
  export interface IngredientInfoResponse { /** Ingredient name */ ingredient: string; /** Description or information about the ingredient */ description?: string; /** Cocktails that use this ingredient */ cocktail_usage: IngredientUsage[]; /** Suggested substitutes */ substitutions?: SubstitutionSuggestion[]; /** Common flavor profiles */ flavor_profiles?: string[]; /** Query information */ query: { /** Original ingredient query */ ingredient_name: string; }; /** Response metadata */ metadata: ResponseMetadata; }